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Babbage's map of the northern section of South Australia in 1858 shows Lake Gregory and Lake Torrens. The exploration tracks of Edward John Eyre and Major Peter Egerton Warburton are also shown. Lake Gregory, named by Babbage, was later renamed Lake Eyre South, after Edward Eyre. The place where he reached the lake in 1840 is shown on the eastern side of the lake. Babbage and Warburton's explorations in 1858, together with those of John McDouall Stuart and Alfred Burtt, revealed the gap between Lake Torrens and Lake Gregory which opened the path to the the far north of the colony. Just west of Lake Gregory can be seen Emerald Spring, the first of the mound springs which are an important water resource, and which enabled the pastoral industry in the region. Emerald Spring was discovered by Benjamin Babbage in October 1858.

Edward Eyre explored north from Adelaide in 1840 and found his path to the far north blocked by what he believed was an extensive horseshoe-shaped salt lake that extended from west to east across his path. For 17 years this blocked further exploration in the region, as subsequent explorers also could see no way through the barrier. In 1858 the puzzle resolved itself as explorers Benjamin Babbage, PE Warburton and John McDouall Stuart discovered the gaps between the lakes in the west and Augustus Gregory, coming down from Queensland found a gap on the east. The one great horseshoe lake dissolved into the many salt lakes evident on the South Australian map today. There were passages through to the far north of the colony.